New York City nightlife institution Lucky Cheng’s, which opened in the rough-and-tumble East Village of the early nineties and relocated to Times Square in 2012, will close after tomorrow night’s programming, Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York has reported. Gothamist confirms the news with an employee, and both blogs cite high rent as a factor in the closure — Grub hears the perpetual bachelorette-party destination is being shown to prospective operators with a $55,000-per-month rent figure attached. The trailblazing Hayne Suthon, who in 1993 transformed her raucous Roman-style bar Cave Canum into the so-called “Drag Capital of the World,” died earlier this month after a battle with cancer.
Update: Despite numerous reports claiming Lucky Cheng’s would close on Saturday, the establishment remained open through Sunday. A real estate broker tells Grub Street that the business is for sale.
Update 2: Lucky Cheng’s is closed as of July 2.
